Build a Minecraft Flying Machine to Launch Cats into Space

Building Your Space-Bound Flying Machine

After returning from an unplanned break, I decided to push Minecraft's mechanics by constructing a flying machine capable of launching a cat (and myself) into "space." This experiment combines redstone engineering, mob behavior analysis, and sheer curiosity. Through trial-and-error, I confirmed that cats survive enormous falls – a quirk that makes them perfect astronauts.

Core Components and Mechanics

Observers and sticky pistons create the engine. Observers detect block updates, sending pulses to pistons. Slime blocks are essential – they stick to adjacent blocks, allowing entire structures to move together. In Minecraft 1.16+, this works identically in Java and Bedrock editions.

The simplest vertical design requires:

1. Observer facing downward
2. Sticky piston below it
3. Two stacked slime blocks
4. Mirrored setup above (piston facing up, observer facing down)

When activated, the machine extends pistons, pushing slime blocks upward. Observers detect this movement, triggering continuous pulses. I validated this with 20+ test launches, confirming it breaches 600+ blocks high.

Step-by-Step Construction Guide

1. Place foundation blocks: Use cheap materials like iron (you’ll lose them during launch).
2. Build the engine:
   • Layer 1: Observer (red dot down) → Sticky piston → Slime block → Slime block
   • Layer 2: Slime block → Sticky piston → Observer (red dot up)
3. Add a platform: Attach extra slime blocks sideways for a "rocket" shape.
4. Activation: Break the block beside the bottom observer to start the sequence.

Critical mistakes I made:

• Overcomplicating with legs (they detached mid-flight).
• Placing blocks above top observers (disrupts redstone pulses).
• Forgetting slime blocks’ stickiness limits (max 12 blocks move together).

Physics Insights and Cat Survival

Cats ignore fall damage due to a longstanding Minecraft behavior quirk. When launched from 600+ blocks:

• They teleport to players upon descent
• Take zero damage upon landing
• Remain seated if placed pre-launch

Contrast this with other mobs:

Mob Type	Fall Survival	Notes
Cats	Yes	No damage at any height
Creepers	No	Explode on impact
Iron Golems	Partial	Lose health but survive

My tests used a tuxedo cat (selected for its astronaut-like coloring). Pro tip: Name-tag your cat to prevent despawning.

Advanced Applications and Future Experiments

This machine isn’t just for memes. Scale it to create:

• Skybase elevators: Add a roof to limit height for reusable transit.
• Creeper farm access: Deploy at build limit to AFK above spawn zones.
• Chunk loader testers: Measure entity movement across loaded areas.

Unanswered questions I’m exploring:

• Do shulkers levitate when launched?
• Can you trigger end gateway portals at extreme heights?
• What happens if the machine crosses into unloaded chunks?

Actionable Builder’s Toolkit

Immediate checklist for your launch:

1. Gather 14+ slime blocks (swamp biomes at half-moon optimize farming).
2. Craft 4 sticky pistons and 2 observers.
3. Choose an open area 300+ blocks from bases.
4. Bring a water bucket for safe descent.

Recommended tools:

• Looting III sword: Triples slime ball drops (essential for mass production).
• ChunkBase.com: Locate slime chunks if swamps fail you.
• Create Mod: For players wanting complex moving structures without vanilla redstone.

Conclusion

Building a cat-launching flying machine reveals Minecraft’s playful physics while teaching core redstone principles. The key takeaway: Simplicity trumps complexity – a two-layer slime/observer/piston design outperformed my elaborate initial attempts.

"When testing your machine, which step do you anticipate will be most challenging? Share your redstone struggles in the comments!"